Bedstead



G. E. CLARK.

2 Sheets-Sheet- 1,.

BBDSTEAD;

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 28, 1890,

jar/670607.

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N; PETERS. mlu Lithugapher (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. O. E. CLARK.

, BEDSTEAD. 7

No. 420,187. Patented Jan. 28, L890,

N. PETERS. Phelo-Lflhographer. Washmglun. 91.9.

a ll] III UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. CLARK, OF FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS.

BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,187, dated January28, 1890.

Application filed December 21, 1888. Serial No. 294,313. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. CLARK, of Franklin, county of Norfolk,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Bedsteads, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representinglike parts.

This invention relates to a novel bedstead especially adapted to be usedin hospitals, asylums, and like places, and has for its object toprovide an extensible bedstead, as will be described, whereby the lengthof the said bedstead may be changed, so that a single bedstead may beused by persons of different heights-as, for instance, the saidbedstead, when extended to its full length, is adapted to be used by afull-grown person, and when shut up or contracted adapted to be used bychildren or as a crib for infants.

My improved bedstead consists, essentially, in the combination, with theheadboard and the foot-board, of the extensible bedsteadbottomconsisting of two or more rows of lazy-tongs connect-ions, having theiropposite ends firmly secured to the said head and foot board, andcomposed of bars pivoted at their ends and center, as will be described,and cross-bars having their ends connected to the central pivots of thebars, whereby the said bed may be lengthened and shortened, while itswidth remains the same, and stops secured to the said cross-bars,substantially as will be described.

The extensible bed-bottom referred to in practice will have secured toit, as will be described, spiral springs upon which is laid the mattressof usual construction, the said springs being connected together by anyflexible connection, such as chains, or it may be cords.

The particular features in which my invention consists will be pointedout in the claim at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of an extensible bedstead embodying myinvention, the said bedstead being shown as extended to its normal orfull length. Fig. 2 is a view in section and elevation, showing myimproved bedstead employed as a mantel or cabinet bedstead, the bedsteadbeing represented by dotted lines as inclosed within the cabinet andconcealed from view by the usual curtain; Fig. 3, a detail in elevation,partially broken out, showing the detachable headboard as secured inplace upon the permanent head-board of the bedstead; Fig. 4, a detailrepresenting the detachable head-board as secured to the head and footboard of the bedstead to form the top of a table, it being provided witha suitable cover, (indicated by dotted lines 5, a top or plan view ofthe extensible bedstead contracted or folded up into its minimum length,the mattress-supporting springs being omitted; Fig. 6, a sectionaldetail to more clearly show the stop f, the section being taken on linem 00, Fig. 2; and Fig. 7, a sectional detail on line 'y 1 Fig. 6, tomore clearly show the cross-bar.

The head-board A, provided with the crossbar A, and the foot-board Aprovided with a cross-bar A are preferably composed of metallic rods ortubes; but they may be made of wood or other material, as now commonlyconstructed, the cross-bars A A being preferably made as angle-irons,which are herein shown as supported by hubs or collars A A secured tothe posts of the said head and foot boards.

The cross-bars A A support my improved extensible bedstead bottomcomposed, as herein shown, of two parallel sets or lines of bars, eachset or line of bars comprising a number of bars a a, pivoted together attheir ends, as at a and at their centers, as at a to form a lazy-tongsconnection between the cross-bars A A, the endmost bars a a of each lineor set of bars being pivoted to the said cross-bars, as at a a. (SeeFig. 5.) The sets or lines of bars are connected by crossbars I), havingtheir ends secured to the central pivots a as clearly shown in Figs. 1and 5.

The extensible bottom preferably supports spiral springs 17 secured tothe pivots a a of the lazy-tongs, and joined together at their upper endby a flexible connectionsuch as a short chain b -the springs 19 at theends of the bedstead-bottom being also connected, as herein shown, bysuitable chains to collars b on a cross-rod b (see Fig. 3) of theheadboard.

The cross-bars A A have secured to them near their centerssupporting-feet b and the extensible bedstead-bottom is supported at itslongitudinal center by feet 19 herein shown as rods, having their upperends bent and secured to the pivots a as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Iprefer to employ eight feet b two on opposite sides of the bed and fourin the center.

As shown in Fig. 1, my improved bedstead is extended to its full ornormal length, and is adapted to be used by grown persons.

If it is desired to use the bedstead for children or small persons or asacrib for infants, the head and foot boards may be forced toward eachother, thus folding or contracting the extensible bedstead-bottom, asshown in Fig. 5, it being represented in said figure as especiallyadapted for a crib, the said bedstead-bottom being at such time ofminimum length.

The bedstead may be made of any desired length between the extremesrepresented by Figs. 1 and 3, respectively, as the occasion may require.

To prevent the bedstead from being extended too far, I have providedsuitable stops (herein shown as bars f) secured to the cross-bars A A sothat when the bed is extended the desired length the end bars a will bebrought into engagement with the said bar f, and the latter, beingfirmly fastened to the cross-bars A A the bars a a will be preventedfrom being further turned on their pivots, and the bed-bottom will thusbe prevented from being further extended.

My improved bedstead may be used in the ordinary manner, or it may beused as a cabinet or mantel bedstead, it being contracted or folded upinto the position represented by dotted lines, Fig. 2, and concealedfrom view within the cabinet by the curtain c, in usual manner; or thesaid bedstead may be folded up into its minimum length and employed as atable, the top of the table 1n such instance being formed by anauxiliary headboard c, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) the sa1d auxiliaryhead-board being provided with springarms 0 adapted to be clamped to therods constituting the head-board of the bedstead, when the bedstead isto be used for sleeping purposes, and adapted to be clamped over thehead and foot boards, as shown in Fig. 4:, to form the top of the table,the bedstead being concealed from view by a suitable coverin 0 Forpurpose of shipment the head and foot boards will preferably beconnected by rods d, secured to suitable eyes d on the said head andfoot boards.

My improved bedstead may be made of any desired width.

I claim In a bedstead, the combination,with aheadboard and a foot-boardand cross-bars 1 A of the extensible bedstead-bottom consisting of twoor more rows of lazy-tongs connectlons having their opposite endspivotally secured and firmly supported by the said cross-bars andcomposed of bars a a, pivoted at their ends and center, as described,and cross-bars I), having their ends connected to the central pivots ofthe bars a a, and a stop, as f, secured to the said cross-bars to bestruck by the lazytongs and thereby limit the length of the bed,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES E. CLARK. Witnesses:

JAs. H. CHURCHILL, M. RAY.

